April 11, 2023

Frank Bird And HRT Continue Racing In The GT World Challenge Europe

The Haupt Racing Team will be once again on the grid in the upcoming season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS as Hubert Haupt's team will field a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the races throughout the season, one of which will be driven by Cumbrian driver Frank Bird.

The #79 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will see German team owner Hubert Haupt and Frenchman Sébastien Baud in action whereas Penrith-born Frank Bird and Australian teammate Jordan Love will race in the sister car #77. The Anglo-Aussie pair will contest selected rounds of the  Endurance Sprint Cup season in the Silver Cup category and after the pair competed for HRT last season, they will now battle for championship points in the main Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe also.

The opening round of this year's Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe season will take place in Monza, Italy on April 22/23 with the first round of the Sprint Cup at Brands Hatch, UK on May 13/14. The final event is over the weekend of October 14/15 on the dune circuit at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.
 
Frank Bird, #77 Haupt Racing Team: "I think we have been able to assemble a goo combination. We want to compete as far up front as possible in both the Silver Cup and the overall standings. The Sprint Cup is a short championship where you can't afford to lose any points so I'm really looking forward to the first race in that series which is also my home race at Brands Hatch."

Images: The Haupt Racing Team livery of Frank Bird’s Mercedes-AMG GT3

GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS

April 22/23 Monza, Italy
May 13/14  Brands Hatch, UK*
June 3/4 Paul Ricard, France
July 1/2 24 Hours of Spa, Belgium
July 15/16 Misano, Italy*
July 29/30 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Germany
Sept 2/3 Hockenheim, Germany*
Sept 16/17 Valencia, Spain*
Sep 30/Oct 1  Barcelona, Spain
Oct 14/15   Zandvoort, Netherlands*

*denotes Sprint Cup

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI READY FOR DONINGTON PARK TEST

April 17, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin head to Donington Park this week for the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship R&G Official Test. After a strong run at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month, the team is looking forward to getting back on track in the UK, as the countdown to the start the 2025 season continues.  The iconic Donington Park will play host to the second pre-season test on Good Friday and Saturday, before the class of 2025 heads to Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24, for the final test before the season begins over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The team is looking to build on the success of the Navarra test, where Irwin was consistently quick, setting the pace on the first day before topping the timesheets at the end of the event with a best lap of 1min 44:527s. But keen not to get caught up focusing on lap times yet, Irwin is more concerned about getting through as much work as possible during the two days and making sure the important boxes are ticked. Glenn Irwin: “We’re all looking forward to it. At Navarra, it was important we worked through a number of things which are different this year and it was a great test – but it’s important that we don’t get complacent. “At Donington we’ve more new items to try and we’ve got a list of work to get through, which will be our priority. Once we’ve done all that and have a good feeling, I think we can show up well on the timesheets, but more so in race rhythm than in one-off fast laps. “At Navarra, we found areas where I was weak last year but not this year so we were able to use this as a reference. At Donington, we know the track well and have an idea of where we need to be but for me it’s about continuing to evaluate what we have and understanding the feeling of everything rather than get too hung up on what the timesheet says. If it feels good and we’re good, we’re happy!” Jordan Bird, Team Co-owner: The whole Hager PBM Ducati team is looking forward to being back on home soil for the first time this year. Navarra was a really productive test for us so the team and Glenn are heading into our UK testing program in great spirits! “We are looking forward to seeing plenty of BSB fans trackside at Donington Park. Let’s hope the sun is shining for us!”
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